5.10 Current debates and reforms
Third Strategic Plan on Youth (Dritter Jugendstrategieplan)
Since 2013, the Strategic Plan on Youth (Jugendstrategieplan) is being implemented in the German-speaking Community. On 1 January 2023, the implementation phase of the Third Strategic Plan on Youth will commence. Its duration will last until the end of 2027.
The Third Strategic Plan on Youth is being drafted based on an analysis of the situation of the young people in the German-speaking Community. This analysis is conducted by using a number of documents, such as the Social Space Analyses (which are conducted in the communities where there is an Open Youth Work offer, those being Amel, Büllingen, Bütgenbach, Kelmis, Lontzen and St. Vith) , surveys among young people, opinion reports and annual reports of several actors of the youth sector of the German-speaking Community, European strategies as well as the first German-speaking Community youth report (Jugendbericht).
Depending on the identified needs, focal points are being determined. Afterwards, the involved actors elaborate an action plan to define objectives, measures and projects. The finalised action plan will be subject to an evaluation of the Council of the German-speaking Youth (Rat der Deutschsprachigen Jugend, RDJ) before being passed by the Government of the German-speaking Community (Regierung der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft) and Parliament of the German-speaking Community (Parlament der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, PDG).
As of July 2022, the focal points have been decided on and the action plan is being elaborated. It has been decided to make the new Strategic Plan on Youth deal with four focal points: Participation in Society, Digitalisation, Emotions and Self-Image and Sustainable Development of the German-speaking Community as Living Area. As part of the Participation in Society focal point, it is planned to strengthen the dialogue between young people and policy-makers, to involve hard to reach young people and to promote political education.